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Pupils at St Richard's RC Primary school are taking part in a dog safety programme.

Blue Cross pet charity has launched a new education initiative to ensure that every primary school pupil in Wigan will take part in a Be Safe with Dogs talk over the next year.

Jade Lomas Anderson Credit: Family photo

The initiative which is being delivered by Wigan Council in partnership with the charity is being launched just over a year after Jade Lomas Anderson died following an attack by a pack of dogs at a friend's home in Atherton.

Jade's mum Shirley and stepfather Michael have been working tirelessly to promote responsible dog ownership and safety as part of Jade's Campaign.

The parents of a girl killed by a pack of dogs are launching a safety campaign across schools in Wigan. Jade Lomas Anderson who was just 14 was mauled to death in an attack at a friends house last March.

Today talks will go ahead at St Richard's RC Primary school in Atherton but every school in the town will take part in the scheme over the next year. The initiative, is being delivered by Wigan Council in partnership with Blue Cross pet charity.

Jades stepfather Michael Anderson said:

"It is so important to educate young people about this subject and we really hope that schools and organisations will take part. The sessions can be delivered in just 20 minutes and will provide vital information for children and their parents.

Over 200,000 people are involved in dog attacks every year and through this programme we hope to make a real difference as part of Jade's legacy."

Nine men who were part of the Rochdale child sex abuse ring have been refused leave to appeal against their convictions and jail sentences.

The sex offenders were part of a gang who received jail sentences of between four and 19 years from a judge who said they had treated their victims "as though they were worthless and beyond any respect".

Following the trial, the Crown Prosecution Service, Greater Manchester Police and Rochdale Social Services were forced to apologise for failing to bring the paedophile gang to justice sooner.

The news that the men have been refused leave to appeal against their sentences and convictions comes the day after Britain's top prosecutor called new guidelines for child sex abuse cases "the most fundamental attitude shift" in the criminal justice system in a generation.

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Michael Anderson, the step father of 14-year-old Jade Anderson who was savaged to death by four dogs said he was "disgusted" after the owner Beverley Concannon walked free from court with a suspended sentence.

The family of a 14-year-old girl savaged to death by four dogs said they were "disgusted" after the owner walked free from court with a suspended sentence.

14-year-old Jade Lomas-Anderson was mauled to death by four dogs. Credit: Family handout

Beverley Concannon kept one of her dogs, a big American bull mastiff, in a tiny cage where it went "stir crazy," along with two other pit bulls and a bull mastiff which were all kept cooped up in her council house.

The conditions led to them becoming stressed and "hyper aggressive" before they turned on Jade Lomas-Anderson at the house in Atherton, Greater Manchester on March 26.